ourquest
2nd April 2009, 12:00 AM
April is the anniversary for us arriving and although I haven't spent much time on the forum at all this year I decided I should still post some sort of reflection on the year gone by.
I do like it here, I always have and life just seems normal on a daily basis. Every so often I pinch myself but only after consciously considering that I now live on the other side of the world compared to a year ago. I've enjoyed learning the subtle cultural differences, like Kiwi vagueness (is this an official term?), like the lack of worrying about the small stuff, and the fantastic humour. Given that I came here thinking that New Zealanders have no sense of humour at all I have been very pleasantly surprised. It isn't very defineable (in a vague sort of way) but it's a strange mixture of the blatant and the subtle. Those who've laughed at "spray and walk away" might know what I mean (reference to a TV advert, for those not yet in NZ).
Having sharpened my teeth on this forum a bit over negative responses to a comment I made about houses with water views still being available in NZ for under 350K, I have a confession to make (but it's not all bad). We found exactly a house like that but it did cost about 5% more than the figure I bandied about. But then it has some extra features too and it even has insulation in one wall. Seriously though, given the option we might place it a wee bit closer to our boys' school but otherwise it's pretty choice. And the water views include an island, and NZ's highest volcano 200km away on clear days. If that's not enough then the rural and forest views in the opposite direction make up for it.
Speaking of school, they're very different to South African schools. On the bad side they seem chaotic, undisciplined and short of facilities. On the good side our boys love going there and they are learning heaps. In typical vagueness, school concerts materialise out of complete carnage and all the kids smile and join in, and then they smile some more. This is a country where kids are given respect, they don't appear to show any back but they achieve and then grow into respectful adults. That's my take on it anyway, and overall I have got used to it and I wouldn't want the rigidity of SA schools thrust back on my kids for anything.
My own business has been a slow starter, thanks to running a household combined with not having to depend on it (OH is still with the same company 11 months on and tolerating the work). Having got used to the casualness of the NZ business environment, 2009 looks good to go and it's time to slow down on renovating bits of the house and concentrate on being an entrepeneur to be able to pay for the next piece of GIB board.
I have surprising news about the weather here in the greater Wellington area. There are some idyllic days (like earlier this evening), and there are some days where you really know you're alive. None of the weather of either type sets in long enough to be of consequence, but then I'm not one to watch weather reports anyway unless there's a cricket match on. Should be a good weekend at the Basin Reserve.
Generally arranging our lives has been easy, like buying things, and organising services. I did find some items very expensive but I have long stopped comparing and I just concentrate on spotting the dollar bargains and avoiding the high prices until a sale comes around. I have nearly mastered the art of haggling in the blatant but subtle friendly Kiwi way, except at the Warehouse where I keep finding the items ring up less than the ticket price anyway. Sometimes New Zealanders beat their own price down before you even have a chance to say "I'll take it". Good on them. Overall I would say that we spend about 1.5 to 2 times what we did in SA on typical items (I had budgeted to spend 1.5 times). But that's actually a total generalisation as it obviously varies depending.
I reckon we've integrated. That's as good as I could have hoped for, but at the same time I always felt it was possible and had a quiet confidence that we would adapt as a family. I knew I had adapted when I stopped thinking that everybody else knows each other and when I stopped trying too hard to be friendly to everyone. It's as much home for us as anywhere has been. We're a long way from friends and family but I am still in good contact with them, and although it might not be face to face it's enough for us whose immediate family is priority. We remain grateful and appreciative of how it has worked out for us, and thankful to all others who have helped us on our journey including the folks here on this forum. Sweet as, chaps.
I do like it here, I always have and life just seems normal on a daily basis. Every so often I pinch myself but only after consciously considering that I now live on the other side of the world compared to a year ago. I've enjoyed learning the subtle cultural differences, like Kiwi vagueness (is this an official term?), like the lack of worrying about the small stuff, and the fantastic humour. Given that I came here thinking that New Zealanders have no sense of humour at all I have been very pleasantly surprised. It isn't very defineable (in a vague sort of way) but it's a strange mixture of the blatant and the subtle. Those who've laughed at "spray and walk away" might know what I mean (reference to a TV advert, for those not yet in NZ).
Having sharpened my teeth on this forum a bit over negative responses to a comment I made about houses with water views still being available in NZ for under 350K, I have a confession to make (but it's not all bad). We found exactly a house like that but it did cost about 5% more than the figure I bandied about. But then it has some extra features too and it even has insulation in one wall. Seriously though, given the option we might place it a wee bit closer to our boys' school but otherwise it's pretty choice. And the water views include an island, and NZ's highest volcano 200km away on clear days. If that's not enough then the rural and forest views in the opposite direction make up for it.
Speaking of school, they're very different to South African schools. On the bad side they seem chaotic, undisciplined and short of facilities. On the good side our boys love going there and they are learning heaps. In typical vagueness, school concerts materialise out of complete carnage and all the kids smile and join in, and then they smile some more. This is a country where kids are given respect, they don't appear to show any back but they achieve and then grow into respectful adults. That's my take on it anyway, and overall I have got used to it and I wouldn't want the rigidity of SA schools thrust back on my kids for anything.
My own business has been a slow starter, thanks to running a household combined with not having to depend on it (OH is still with the same company 11 months on and tolerating the work). Having got used to the casualness of the NZ business environment, 2009 looks good to go and it's time to slow down on renovating bits of the house and concentrate on being an entrepeneur to be able to pay for the next piece of GIB board.
I have surprising news about the weather here in the greater Wellington area. There are some idyllic days (like earlier this evening), and there are some days where you really know you're alive. None of the weather of either type sets in long enough to be of consequence, but then I'm not one to watch weather reports anyway unless there's a cricket match on. Should be a good weekend at the Basin Reserve.
Generally arranging our lives has been easy, like buying things, and organising services. I did find some items very expensive but I have long stopped comparing and I just concentrate on spotting the dollar bargains and avoiding the high prices until a sale comes around. I have nearly mastered the art of haggling in the blatant but subtle friendly Kiwi way, except at the Warehouse where I keep finding the items ring up less than the ticket price anyway. Sometimes New Zealanders beat their own price down before you even have a chance to say "I'll take it". Good on them. Overall I would say that we spend about 1.5 to 2 times what we did in SA on typical items (I had budgeted to spend 1.5 times). But that's actually a total generalisation as it obviously varies depending.
I reckon we've integrated. That's as good as I could have hoped for, but at the same time I always felt it was possible and had a quiet confidence that we would adapt as a family. I knew I had adapted when I stopped thinking that everybody else knows each other and when I stopped trying too hard to be friendly to everyone. It's as much home for us as anywhere has been. We're a long way from friends and family but I am still in good contact with them, and although it might not be face to face it's enough for us whose immediate family is priority. We remain grateful and appreciative of how it has worked out for us, and thankful to all others who have helped us on our journey including the folks here on this forum. Sweet as, chaps.